Masquerade of Bones

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Book 1 of Masquerade of Bones
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Pub Date 25 Feb 2025 | Archive Date 15 Jul 2025

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Description

A blood oath. A botched heist. A dangerous deal with the enemy.

Everly Thorn knew she was doomed when the bones of dead dragons and other magical beasts began whispering to her. She’ll do anything to keep her cursed gift a secret for fear of being used as a weapon to hunt other witches in hiding.

Reeling from her parents’ murder and broken betrothal to the crown prince, Everly has racked up a fortune in gambling debts. Her job as an exhibit curator at the Menagerie of Extinct Magical Creatures doesn’t pay enough to keep the collectors from threatening to take her home—the only thing she and her brother have left.

Silas Drake is an infamous outlaw in need of a witch with a unique set of skills and exactly the kind of man Everly has vowed to stay away from—cruel, dark, and deadly. He’s determined to steal a powerful dragon relic being held in the Menagerie’s vault.

When Silas discovers Everly’s secret, the ruthless shadow summoner presents her with an impossible choice—swear a blood oath to help him steal the relic and secure her financial freedom, or be handed over to the authorities.

Everly, however, is done taking orders from men who want to control her and refuses to accept her fate without a fight. She’ll risk everything - including her hardened heart - to undermine Silas Drake and his dangerous band of thieves.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, villain gets the girl, shadow daddy, heists, forced bonds, royalty, arranged marriage, found family, fake dating, outlaws, magic, and dragons.

Content Warning: Masquerade of Bones is a dark southern gothic romantasy intended for an adult audience and includes graphic depictions of public hangings, violence, blood, gore, decapitation, chronic illness, references to mental illness, reference to suicide ideation, alcohol & drug use, prescription drug abuse, drugging of others, military conscription, hazing, slut shaming, bondage (not the fun kind), torture of prisoners, abuse, an implied threat of sexual assault by a side character, death of a child on page, explicit language, explicit sexual content, public sex, and use of magic during sex. Please read with care.

A blood oath. A botched heist. A dangerous deal with the enemy.

Everly Thorn knew she was doomed when the bones of dead dragons and other magical beasts began whispering to her. She’ll do anything to...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781958602034
PRICE US$18.99 (USD)
PAGES 418

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Average rating from 8 members


Featured Reviews

This is the next Romantasy everyone needs to obsess over!

Everly is a Witch in disguise hiding her magic from the crown to avoid serving in the military. Down on her luck after her parents death and her engagement to the crown prince being broken, she make some shady and dangerous deals. Deals that will throw her head first into danger and temptation.

It's been an age since I have been so excited about a new "system" of magic. I love how magic the humans use stems from relic from other magical creatures. The fact that witches don't live long as the magic burns through them adds an extra layer of fear for the characters who literally live fast and die young.
The romance element is very well done we have an excellent shadow daddy, who veers to the darker side of grey at times. This is a slow burn which works well with the enemies to lovers aspect of the relationship.
The world building is great we are given information at a good pace without info dumping and we know there are several kingdoms with their own political systems.

The only thing that I found a little odd is how much the fmc sweats- it's mentioned alot alot. She is sweaty in almost every chapter, I am not sure if it's going to be a plot point or not, I hope so otherwise it is a tad weird.

I am so excited for the next book in this series and I am already obsessed! Yes obsessed with this new fantasy world.

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